Youth as Prevention Practitioners

Topic area: Youth as Contributors

Type: Keynote or workshop

Young people are the most underutilized resource in our society. In communities that afford them few meaningful roles, many feel irrelevant and isolated, and engage in high risk behaviors. However, when young people serve on the "front lines" and are meaningfully involved in the delivery of services that meet genuine needs, they become "stakeholders" who are less likely to take such unhealthy risks and are more likely to thrive.

This presentation will introduce the essential elements of effective youth involvement in prevention programs such as conflict mediation, peer helping, and community service. Participants will explore successful strategies for

• Gaining school and community support
• Initiating and sustaining youth participation
• Securing funding
• Developing effective training
• Providing on-going supervision
• Documenting program effectiveness
• Acknowledging successes

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